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{{Taxobox
{{Taxobox
| color = white
| color = pink
| name = Lightning whelk
| name = Lightning whelk
| image = Welk2.jpg
| image = Welk2.jpg
Line 12: Line 12:
| binomial = ''Busycon perversum''
| binomial = ''Busycon perversum''
| binomial_authority = (Linné, 1758.)
| binomial_authority = (Linné, 1758.)
| synonomy = ''B. contrarium'', ''B. sinistrum''
| synonyms = ''Busycon contrarium''<br>''Busycon sinistrum''
}}
}}


The '''Lightning Whelk''', ''Busycon perversum'' is a large marine [[gastropod]] native to southeastern North America. Lightning whelks resemble the [[knobbed whelk|knobbed whelks]] to whom they are closely related. Lightning and knobbed whelks can eaisly be distinguished from each other given the sinistral nature of the lightning whelk meaning that the spiral of this whelk turns to the left (counterclockwise) rather than the right (clockwise) as is the case with the knobbed whelk and most other gastropods.
The '''lightning whelk''', ''Busycon perversum'', is a large marine [[gastropod]] native to southeastern [[North America]]. Lightning whelks resemble the [[knobbed whelk]]s to whom they are closely related. Lightning and knobbed whelks can easily be distinguished from each other given the [[sinistral]] whorls of the lightning whelk - the spiral of this whelk turns to the left (counterclockwise) rather than the right (clockwise) as is the case with the knobbed whelk and most other gastropods.


==Habitat==
==Habitat==
Lightning Whelks can be found in the sandy or muddy substrate of shallow embayments and their shells can be found from southern [[New Jersey]] to [[Mexico]], but are most numerous in southwest [[Florida]] in the vicinity of Sanibel Island.
Lightning whelks can be found in the sandy or muddy substrate of shallow embayments and their shells can be found from southern [[New Jersey]] to [[Mexico]], but are most numerous in southwest [[Florida]] in the vicinity of [[Sanibel Island]].



==Diet==
==Diet==
Feed primarily on [[clam|clams]] and other marine [[bivalve|bivalves]].
They feed primarily on [[clam]]s and other marine [[bivalve]]s.


==Differences from Knobbed Whelks==
==Differences from knobbed whelks==
The lightning whelk shares many common characteristics with its sister species the knobbed whelk but there are some important differences to recognize.
The lightning whelk shares many common characteristics with its sister species the knobbed whelk but there are some important differences:


*Lightning Whelks are sinistral in shape while Knobbed Whelks are dextral
*Lightning whelks are sinistral in shape while knobbed whelks are [[dextral]]
*Lightning Whelks have a more compressed [[Spire (mollusc)|spire]] than the Knobbed Whelk
*Lightning whelks have a more compressed [[Spire (mollusc)|spire]] than the knobbed whelk
*The knobs of the Lightning Whelk are usually less exaggerated than those of the Knobbed Whelk
*The knobs of the lightning whelk are usually less exaggerated than those of the knobbed whelk
*Lightning Whelks are [[diurnal]] while Knobbed Whelks are active both day and night
*Lightning whelks are [[diurnal]] while knobbed whelks are active both day and night
*Lightning Whelks prefer to stay in deeper waters than the Knobbed Whelks when feeding on the mud flats
*Lightning whelks prefer to stay in deeper waters than the knobbed whelks when feeding on mud flats


== Importance to Humans==
== Importance to humans==
*Native Americans used these animals as food and their shells for tools, ornaments, and containers for thousands of years.
*For thousands of years native Americans used these animals as food and their shells for tools, ornaments, and containers
*These whelks are common in commercial fisheries
*These whelks are common in commercial fisheries
*The Lightning Whelk is the State Shell of Texas
*The lightning whelk is the [[List of U.S. state shells|State Shell of Texas]]
*Native Americans may have believed the sinistral nature of the lightning whelk shell made it a sacred object.
*Native Americans may have believed the sinistral nature of the lightning whelk shell made it a sacred object.


==References==
==References==
Marquardt, W.M. 1992 Shell Artifacts from the Caloosahatchee Area. In ''Culture and Environment in the Domain of the Calusa'', edited by W. H. Marquardt, pp. 191-228. Institute of Archaeology and Paleoenvironmental Studies, Monograph 1. University of Florida, Gainesville.
* Marquardt, W.M. 1992 Shell Artifacts from the Caloosahatchee Area. In ''Culture and Environment in the Domain of the Calusa'', edited by W. H. Marquardt, pp. 191-228. Institute of Archaeology and Paleoenvironmental Studies, Monograph 1. University of Florida, Gainesville.
⚫
* Paine, Robert T. 1962 Ecological Diversification in Sympatric Gastropods of the Genus Busycon. ''Evolution'' 16(4):515-523.

⚫
* Pulley, T.E. 1959 ''Busycon perversum'' (Linné) and some related species. ''Rice Institute Pamphlet'', 46:70-89.
Paine, Robert T.
⚫
* Wise, J.B., G. Harasewych, & R. Dillon. 2004. Population divergence in the sinistral ''Busycon'' whelks of North America, with special reference to the east Florida ecotone. ''Marine Biology'', 145:1163-1179; SMSFP Contrib.538.
⚫
1962 Ecological Diversification in Sympatric Gastropods of the Genus Busycon. ''Evolution'' 16(4):515-523.

Pulley, T.E.
⚫
1959 ''Busycon perversum'' (Linné) and some related species. ''Rice Institute Pamphlet'', 46:70-89.

⚫
Wise, J.B., G. Harasewych, & R. Dillon. 2004. Population divergence in the sinistral Busycon whelks of North America, with special reference to the east Florida ecotone. ''Marine Biology'', 145:1163-1179; SMSFP Contrib.538.

⚫
[http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=367 Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Snails of the Sea]

⚫
[http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/lwhelk/ Texas Parks and Wildlife, Lightning Whelks]



==External links==
⚫
* [http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=367 Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Snails of the Sea]
⚫
* [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/lwhelk/ Texas Parks and Wildlife, lightning whelks]


<br clear="all" />
[[Category:Gastropods]]
[[Category:Gastropods]]
[[Category:State shells of the United States]]
[[Category:State shells of the United States]]

Revision as of 10:00, 1 July 2007

Lightning whelk
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Sorbeoconcha
Family:
Melongenidae
Genus:
Busycon
Species:
B. perversum
Binomial name
Busycon perversum
(Linné, 1758.)
Synonyms

Busycon contrarium
Busycon sinistrum

The lightning whelk, Busycon perversum, is a large marine gastropod native to southeastern North America. Lightning whelks resemble the knobbed whelks to whom they are closely related. Lightning and knobbed whelks can easily be distinguished from each other given the sinistral whorls of the lightning whelk - the spiral of this whelk turns to the left (counterclockwise) rather than the right (clockwise) as is the case with the knobbed whelk and most other gastropods.

Habitat

Lightning whelks can be found in the sandy or muddy substrate of shallow embayments and their shells can be found from southern New Jersey to Mexico, but are most numerous in southwest Florida in the vicinity of Sanibel Island.

Diet

They feed primarily on clams and other marine bivalves.

Differences from knobbed whelks

The lightning whelk shares many common characteristics with its sister species the knobbed whelk but there are some important differences:

  • Lightning whelks are sinistral in shape while knobbed whelks are dextral
  • Lightning whelks have a more compressed spire than the knobbed whelk
  • The knobs of the lightning whelk are usually less exaggerated than those of the knobbed whelk
  • Lightning whelks are diurnal while knobbed whelks are active both day and night
  • Lightning whelks prefer to stay in deeper waters than the knobbed whelks when feeding on mud flats

Importance to humans

  • For thousands of years native Americans used these animals as food and their shells for tools, ornaments, and containers
  • These whelks are common in commercial fisheries
  • The lightning whelk is the State Shell of Texas
  • Native Americans may have believed the sinistral nature of the lightning whelk shell made it a sacred object.

References

  • Marquardt, W.M. 1992 Shell Artifacts from the Caloosahatchee Area. In Culture and Environment in the Domain of the Calusa, edited by W. H. Marquardt, pp. 191-228. Institute of Archaeology and Paleoenvironmental Studies, Monograph 1. University of Florida, Gainesville.
  • Paine, Robert T. 1962 Ecological Diversification in Sympatric Gastropods of the Genus Busycon. Evolution 16(4):515-523.
  • Pulley, T.E. 1959 Busycon perversum (Linné) and some related species. Rice Institute Pamphlet, 46:70-89.
  • Wise, J.B., G. Harasewych, & R. Dillon. 2004. Population divergence in the sinistral Busycon whelks of North America, with special reference to the east Florida ecotone. Marine Biology, 145:1163-1179; SMSFP Contrib.538.
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